Tray device

ABSTRACT

A tray includes a dimensionally stable base having a supporting surface to accommodate sheet information carriers, and a transparent and dimensionally stable upper part which can be fixed to the base as a goods supporting surface so that, in the fixed state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part so as to be visible. The upper part can be fixed to the base by means of at least one detent which engages in an aperture arranged in a corresponding manner in the base and which projects beyond the lateral profile of the upper part. An auxiliary tool has a contact surface with at least one protrusion which can be placed against the side of the base so that the protrusion can be pressed against the detent to push the detent out of the aperture to release the upper part from the lower part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a tray device having means for holding a sheet information carrier such as an advertisement.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In many fast-food restaurants, as a rule stackable plastic trays are used, onto which sheet paper advertisements are laid as bases, in order to avoid excessively great soiling of the trays with the meals and beverages.

[0005] The drawback here is the enormously high consumption of paper advertisements, since during the dispensing of the meals and beverages in each case a new advertisement sheet has to be inserted and, after consumption, is generally put into containers provided for the purpose. This results in an enormously high consumption of paper, which has to be assessed as detrimental from an economic and ecological point of view.

[0006] DE 299 11 797 discloses a gastronomic serving tray made of fiberglass which has motifs, photographs or fine line drawings which are fashioned over the area of the supporting surface by means of offset printing and which are protected by means of a scratch-resistant melamine coating.

[0007] The German Utility Model No. 1 995 610 discloses a food tray which consists of a solid base made of a hard plastic and an inlay which is shaped in the same way, can be laid on the base over its entire area and is supported on the latter and is made of a thin plastic film which is not sufficiently dimensionally stable on its own.

[0008] DE 44 10 222 provides a tray having a flat base, which is surrounded by an upwardly projecting tray outer edge and whose upper side is covered by a film, in particular a transparent film, the outer edge of the film being covered by a frame, in particular a ring, which is fixed to the outer edge of the tray and/or to the base.

[0009] The disadvantage with these trays is, firstly, that the respective attraction elements, for example in the form of photographs, are permanently connected to the supporting surface of the tray, which does not permit the attraction elements to be changed, and, secondly, that the coating or the plastic film does not provide adequately high mechanical protection and replacement of the film is a relatively awkward procedure.

[0010] From the aforementioned, the problem arises of eliminating or avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages, at least to some extent. The problem which arises consists in particular of providing a tray device which permits rapid and simple changing of attraction elements, at the same time the latter being adequately protected mechanically given conventional use of the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The tray device according to the invention comprises a tray with a dimensionally stable base having a supporting surface to accommodate sheet information carriers, and a transparent and dimensionally stable upper part which can be fixed to the base as a goods supporting surface so that, in the fixed state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part so as to be legible. On account of this specific configuration, it is possible for sheet information carriers, for example advertising inserts, to be inserted in between base and upper part and replaced and, moreover, on account of the dimensional stability of the upper part, to be adequately protected in a mechanical way during normal stressing of such a tray. Because of the transparency of the upper part, the legibility of the sheet information carrier is ensured.

[0012] The upper part can be fixed to the base by means of at least one detent which engages in an aperture arranged in a corresponding manner in the base, and which projects beyond the lateral profile of the upper part.

[0013] With the trays, it is also possible, as opposed to stackable plastic trays which are generally used in many fast-food restaurants, on which sheet paper advertisements are placed as bases, in order to avoid excessive contamination of the trays with the meals and beverages, for the corresponding sheet information carriers to be used many times, so that enormous potential savings are to be noticed both from an economic and from an ecological point of view.

[0014] In addition, the device according to the invention comprises an auxiliary tool, which has a contact surface to be placed on a side surface of the tray that has the at least one detent. In order to press the at least one detent out of the at least one aperture to release the upper part from the base, the tool has at least one protrusion corresponding to the detent.

[0015] On account of this specific configuration, inadvertent or improper lifting of the upper part of the base is reduced to a great extent. At the same time, when the auxiliary tool is used, the upper part can be rapidly and reliably released from the base.

[0016] The detents can have an extremely wide range of forms, for example dome-shaped or box-shaped; this applies to a corresponding extent to the corresponding aperture (circular or square on the basis of the above examples).

[0017] The auxiliary tool can also be configured differently, in particular also as a kind of trough which accommodates a tray and on whose side surfaces the corresponding protrusions are arranged. The protrusions can be formed, for example, like rods.

[0018] In principle, the use of a material matched appropriately to the requirements is possible, in particular the use of different plastics for the tray and the use of metal, for example stainless steel, for the auxiliary tool, since the latter can frequently be used as a semi-stationary device in large kitchens, in particular in fast-food restaurants.

[0019] Next, it is advantageous if the detent and the corresponding protrusion are shaped like a nipple and/or pin, since these are geometrically simple shapes which have been tried and tested in practice and can be produced simply.

[0020] In addition, it is advantageous if the upper part has two detents on each side and the auxiliary tool has two corresponding protrusions, since in this way there is redundancy of engagement, and the strength of the engagement between upper part and base can be increased.

[0021] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the upper part has three detents on each side and the auxiliary tool has three corresponding protrusions, since in this way inadvertent lifting of the upper part of the base becomes virtually impossible.

[0022] In order to increase the extent of the form fit between upper part and base, it is advantageous if the upper part has a collar that engages in a circumferential groove in the base.

[0023] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in the fixed state, at least one seal is arranged between the base and the upper part, in particular in the groove in the base, since in this way the possible penetration of liquids, in particular of beverages, is prevented.

[0024] In practice, the following configurations have proved themselves advantageous:

[0025] The upper part can be fixed to the base by means of hinges, push-buttons, touch and close fasteners, pins, clamping folds, latching lugs engaging behind correspondingly arranged recesses, or screws.

[0026] The seal consists of rubber, cork, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinylchloride; however, other suitable materials are also conceivable.

[0027] The base and the auxiliary tool consist of plastic, metal, glass or wood, for example of polyethylene, polypropylene or stainless steel, aluminum or borosilicate glass or oak.

[0028] The upper part consists of plastic and/or glass, for example of polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene or borosilicate glass.

[0029] Finally, it is advantageous if the supporting surface for accommodating sheet information carriers underneath the transparent, dimensionally stable upper part can be inserted laterally into the dimensionally stable base, in particular in the form of a drawer, so that,in the inserted state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part so as to be legible, since in this way a further option for rapid and uncomplicated changing of the information carrier is possible.

[0030] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of upper part and base of a tray belonging to the tray device according to the invention;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tray as assembled, and an auxiliary tool belonging to the tray device according to the invention; and

[0033]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tray belonging to the tray device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, the tray has a dimensionally stable base (1) having a supporting surface (2) to accommodate sheet information carriers, and a transparent and dimensionally stable upper part (3) which can be fixed to the base (1) as a goods supporting surface so that, in the fixed state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part (3) so as to be legible. On account of this specific configuration, it is possible for sheet information carriers, for example advertising inserts, to be inserted between base (1) and upper part (3) and replaced and, furthermore, on account of the dimensional stability of the upper part (3), to be adequately protected in a mechanical way during normal stressing of such a tray. Because of the transparency of the upper part (3), the legibility of the sheet information carrier is ensured.

[0035] On each side, the base (1) has three circular apertures (4), which in each case also correspond with three nipple-shaped detents (5) on each side of the upper part (3), so that, when the upper part (3) is pushed into the base (1) so that they rest on each other, a form-fitting fixing is made.

[0036] The upper part (3) has a circumferential collar (10), which seats in a circumferential channel (9) in the base and in this way ensures additional fixing and sealing.

[0037] In the fixed state, a silicone seal (11) is arranged between the supporting surface (2) of the base (1) and the upper part (3), in order in this way to prevent the possible penetration of liquids, in particular of beverages.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, the tray depicted corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1, the upper part (3) and the base (1) having already been fixed to each other. The auxiliary tool is rod-like, with three protrusions (6) corresponding to the detents (5). When the side surface (8) of the tray that has the detents (5) is laid on the contact surface (7) of the auxiliary tool, the three detents (5) are pressed out of the apertures (4) as a result of the tray and the auxiliary tool being pushed lightly onto each other, so that the result is that the upper part (3) is released from the base (1).

[0039] In this way, rapid and secure changing of sheet advertisements inserted between base (1) and upper part (3) is possible, at the same time undesired or improper opening being prevented by this specific configuration.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, this embodiment of the tray also has a dimensionally stable base (1) having a supporting surface (2) to accommodate sheet information carriers, and a transparent and dimensionally stable upper part (3) which can be fixed to the base (1) as a goods supporting surface so that, in the fixed state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part (3) so as to be legible. The supporting surface (2) to accommodate sheet information carriers can in this case be inserted laterally into the dimensionally stable base (1), here in the form of a drawer, underneath the transparent, dimensionally stable upper part (3), so that, in the inserted state, the information carrier is covered by the upper part (3) so as to be legible and, in this way, rapid and uncomplicated changing of the information carrier is possible. (The further features are not depicted, since here only the differences from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are emphasized). Otherwise, the configuration corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

We claim:
 1. A tray comprising a dimensionally stable base having a supporting surface for accommodating a sheet information carrier, said base having a side with at least one aperture therein, and a dimensionally stable upper part which can be fixed to said base, said upper part having a transparent goods supporting surface so that said information carrier is visible, said upper part having at least one detent which projects laterally outward and engages in a respective said at least one aperture in said base, whereby an auxiliary tool having a contact surface with at least one protrusion can be placed against the side of said base so that said at least one protrusion can be pressed against said at least one detent to push said detent out of said aperture and to release the upper part from the base.
 2. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said detent is shaped like one of a nipple and a pin.
 3. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said side of said of said upper part has two of said detents, whereby said auxiliary tool must have two corresponding protrusions.
 4. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said side of said upper part has three of said detents, whereby said auxiliary tool must have three corresponding protrusions.
 5. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said base has a circumferential channel, and said upper part has a collar which seats in said circumferential channel.
 6. A tray as in claim 5 further comprising a circumferential seal arranged between said collar and said channel.
 7. A tray as in claim 6 wherein said seal is fitted in said channel.
 8. A tray as in claim 6 wherein said seal is one of rubber, cork, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyvinylchloride.
 9. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said base has opposed sides, each side having at least one aperture therein, and said upper part has opposed detents which engage in respective said apertures in said opposed sides.
 10. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said base consists of one of plastic, metal, glass, and wood.
 11. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said upper part consists of one of plastic and glass.
 12. A tray as in claim 1 wherein said upper part is assembled to said base by inserting said upper part laterally into said base.
 13. A method of protecting a sheet information carrier in a tray, said method comprising providing a dimensionally stable base having a supporting surface, said base having a side with at least one aperture therein, placing a sheet information carrier on said supporting surface, and fixing a dimensionally stable upper part to said base, said upper part having a transparent goods supporting surface so that said information carrier is visible, said upper part having at least one detent which projects laterally outward and engages in a respective said at least one aperture in said base.
 14. A method as in claim 13 further comprising providing an auxiliary tool having a contact surface with at least one protrusion, placing said contact surface against the side of said base so that said at least one protrusion is pressed against said at least one detent to push said detent out of said aperture, releasing said upper part from said base, and replacing said sheet information carrier on said supporting surface with another sheet information carrier, and fixing said upper part to said base. 